HUAC North: the Chairman's sophistry

Mario Silva today:

I think Israel can be criticised like any other country, but the question is where to the lines start to be crossed, and when those lines are crossed then it becomes a problem and it is anti-Semitism. For example, when there’s cartoons depicting Jews in a very derogatory fashion, when there is presentation that all Jews are responsible, when they’re referring to Israel as an apartheid state that doesn’t have a right to exist, then there’s still some lines that are crossed and I think that’s not appropriate. Is criticism of Israel legitimate? Absolutely it’s legitimate, and people have a right to criticise Israel like they have a right to criticise any other country – it’s a free country. The problem is when people start crossing the line into areas that will legitimately be considered anti-Semitism.

Let's pick this apart, just for fun.

• "when there’s cartoons depicting Jews in a very derogatory fashion." Jews qua Jews? Couldn't agree more. IDF soldiers on one of their rampages, who happen to be Jews? Not so much. Could we get some examples of the former?
  
  
• "when there is presentation that all Jews are responsible." Might we have an example of this? Is that too much to ask? Besides, "responsible" for what?
  
  
• "when they’re referring to Israel as an apartheid state that doesn’t have a right to exist." Nice bit of double-barreling there, Mario. But in any case, why is it "anti-Semitic" to make the case that Israel's treatment of the Palestinians is a kind of apartheid? Bishop Desmond Tutu thought so, and he ought to know.
  
  In fact, why is it "anti-Semitic" to question the "right" of Israel to exist? What nation on the planet has such a "right?" Does suggesting a one-state solution to the ME situation effectively question this "right?" Is it "anti-Semitic" to propose such a solution? (Good luck with a two-state one.)
  
  
• "Is criticism of Israel legitimate? Absolutely it’s legitimate, and people have a right to criticise Israel like they have a right to criticise any other country – it’s a free country. The problem is when people start crossing the line into areas that will legitimately be considered anti-Semitism."
  
  I'm still looking for a name for this slimy rhetorical gesture. Shorter Mario: "In principle, criticism of Israel is fine. In practice, it jolly well isn't."
  

Recall that Mario and his companions are supposed to be conducting an "inquiry." Do some readers sceptical of my earlier remarks now doubt that the CPCCA's conclusions were established before this farce even began?

[H/t Hill Queeries.]